Huayu: Serious director, who's eavesdropping on your thoughts?

Beijing Film Academy, in front of the bulletin board.

"Zhao Huaiyuan...it's him again!"

"Who? That freshman Zhao Shen?"

"Nonsense! Who else could get Han Sanping to be the producer besides him? Look at this official letter, it's a full investment from China Film Group, my god!"

The crowd erupted in chaos.

If it were a different name, people might question who this person is connected to.

But when most people at the Beijing Film Academy see the name Zhao Huaiyuan, their first reaction is not doubt, but excitement!

At the recent ISFVF Film Festival, Zhao Huaiyuan not only won numerous awards for his film "Andhadhun," but also delivered a speech on stage about the dignity of Chinese cinema, greatly enhancing the reputation of the Beijing Film Academy.

This had long made him a prominent figure at school.

"I knew this guy wouldn't be idle; he was bound to make a move. I just didn't expect it to be this big. Was he going to throw in a trump card right off the bat?"

"They just won a Grand Slam at the ISFVF, and it's only been a few days? And now it's already in theaters?"

"Escape from the Eagle Museum? What a weird name! It sounds like an action movie, or a Hollywood Tomb Raider-style treasure hunt."

"The casting of the male and female leads is so mismatched. What can these two possibly do together? Is it that the fairy-like beauty has fallen for me, the museum worker?"

"The timing is wrong too. What month is it now? The announcement says it's for the Lunar New Year season, but there are only two or three months left until then. What can they possibly film?"

"Exactly! Unless the film was already shot a long time ago, is this just a formality?"

"Such a large-scale open audition is unprecedented in the industry. Could it be a publicity stunt?"

"Probably not. But if it's true, then this kid's probably gotten too cocky. He just won an award and he thinks he can become a superstar overnight. He dares to go abroad to shoot an action blockbuster and even cast an amateur as the male lead. Tsk tsk..."

"Hey? Old Deng, haven't you always complained that you're too unattractive to get roles? This time, Zhao Shen specifically requested roles regardless of appearance, your chance has come!"

"Really? I can get an audition for Zhao Shen's show?"

For a time, universities across the country were discussing what kind of director this Zhao Huaiyuan was and what kind of films he wanted to make.

Those talented students who usually only get to play villains or supporting roles because of their looks feel that their opportunity has arrived.

Next came the newspaper.

The entertainment section of the Yanjing Evening News and the China Film News both published brief recruitment notices in a prominent position.

Back then, countless aspiring filmmakers in Beijing would carry their resumes and run around to film crews, and the first thing they did every day was buy a newspaper to look for work.

At the entrance of Beijing Film Studio.

A cold wind was blowing, and a group of extras wearing military overcoats and hunching their shoulders were squatting against the wall, basking in the sun.

"Wow! Big news!"

A group leader ran over waving a newspaper, spitting everywhere.

"Central Motion Picture Corporation is putting on a big production! This time, they don't want actors with formal training; they say as long as you act convincingly, you can be the male lead!"

"Nonsense, right? Is there really such a thing as a free lunch?"

"It's true! It's even in the newspapers; Han Sanping personally supervised the production."

The crowd erupted in chaos.

For these migrant workers in Beijing who spend their days playing corpses or passersby, earning only a few dozen yuan a day and having their lunch money deducted, this is a different story.

This is truly fantastic news.

"Recruiting a male lead, appearance not limited... rich experience, British Museum? Action and martial arts scenes? That must be abroad, right? To escape, you definitely need to be good at fighting, and I am good at fighting."

Eighteen-year-old Wang Baoqiang squatted in the corner, looking at the recruitment requirements in the newspaper, his heart pounding.

His experience of training in the coldest and hottest winters at Shaolin Temple, and his experience of venturing alone to Beijing and sleeping in a basement, were also valuable lessons.

"Aren't these requirements exactly what I'm looking for?" He used to work on film sets, but people either thought he was too short, too unsophisticated, or that he didn't look like an actor.

But this time...

"I'm going!" Wang Baoqiang folded the newspaper neatly, stuffed it into his pocket and kept it close to his body, his eyes burning with a fire.

"No matter what this director is making, I feel like this male lead is written for me, I'm going to give it a try!"

"I'll go too! Damn it, I've been playing a dead body for seven or eight years, can't I play a living person again?"

"Let's go! Let's go to Xiaoxitian and queue up in front of the China Film Studio!"

..

At the same time.

A restaurant near the entrance of Beijing Film Academy.

"Haozi, look how ridiculous this is! Zhao Huaiyuan, that kid, we were just helping him with dubbing and color grading in the editing room not long ago, and now he's made such a big splash. It's infuriating to compare people like this. You can't compare them."

Huang Bo pointed to the recruitment notice in the newspaper and said to Ning Hao in front of him.

Ning Hao took a swig of wine, staring at the words "Han Sanping produced" on the newspaper, his expression complex.

"That's pretty amazing. Five million in investment, a few months to complete, and they even have to do this kind of large-scale open selection. If it were someone else, I would definitely call them a fraud."

"But this person is Zhao Huaiyuan, the one who leaves you speechless." Huang Bo chuckled.

Ning Hao did not deny it; the other party really did have something to offer.

He was there at the opening ceremony that day and watched the whole thing. Honestly, if it were him, he wouldn't have been able to do it.

"But the casting is so weird, and the title, 'Escape from the Eagle Museum,' sounds like a blockbuster, and it's set overseas. Is 500 million enough? What exactly is he trying to do?"

Ning Hao downed a glass of wine, not understanding or comprehending it.

"Who cares? Let's go see and find out!"

"Hmm? You want to play the male lead?"

Huang Bo joked, "Look at me. I've sung in nightclubs, worked in factories, gone bankrupt, and then studied. All the bitterness and sweetness of life are written on my face. I'm full of experience. Doesn't that fit his requirements perfectly?"

Ning Hao remained silent and did not respond.

Huang Bo leaned forward, his eyes shining: "Haozi, I think this is my chance. We know each other, so I'll give it a try."

"You should go, and I should go too." Ning Hao nodded and took out a resume from his bag.

"Haozi, you're going to act too?" Huang Bo asked in surprise.

"I'm not acting. Didn't they say on the sign that they're also hiring an assistant director?"

Ning Hao's eyes sharpened: "I just want to see how Zhao Huaiyuan plans to film this movie with such an outrageous budget and only a few months left. Otherwise..."

Otherwise... he really doesn't want to admit defeat.

He had always considered himself a genius and had never suffered such a blow. He was still holding a grudge after his defeat in the last ISFVF.

Are you a genius or a madman? Let me find out for myself.

World Forum.

The moderator pinned a title.

Make it red! Make it bigger! Make it bold!

"In-depth exposé: China Film Group invests 500 million yuan to promote a freshman? The shady dealings behind the most bizarre casting in history! Is this a genius director or a game of capital creating a god?"

The original poster, whose ID is "Old Beijing Gunner," posted the two completely different recruitment notices for men and women in the main thread, along with an analysis:

"Gentlemen, please take a look!"

The left side is recruiting male leads, written like a poverty alleviation project, anyone can apply; the right side is recruiting female leads, good heavens, this isn't casting actors, this is clearly an ancient emperor selecting concubines!

To be natural, to have good bone structure, and to have trained since childhood... these requirements are so demanding that even the most beautiful girl at the Beijing Dance Academy would probably have to think twice.

Although Zhao Huaiyuan rose to fame at ISFVF, whether he is a true genius still needs time to prove. Why is there suddenly such a large-scale audition now, aiming for the Lunar New Year release and going head-to-head with Zhang Yimou's "Hero"? I seriously suspect this is a marketing tactic? To create a relatable persona? Or perhaps to create a god-like image?

2nd Floor (Lightly Dancing): "First! I don't know, but I have seen his movie 'Andhadhun,' it's pretty good."

5th floor (Don't hurt my feelings): "Putting everything else aside, there's not enough time."

18th Floor (My Heart Soars): "I agree with the original poster. This is definitely a case of connections. The open auditions are just a smokescreen, a way to gain a more approachable image. The final selections will definitely be the same old celebrities. As for the female lead, I bet it'll be a harem chosen through the open auditions!"

Floor 21 (Diving Fish): "I also feel something's not right! Who is Han Sanping? The head of China Film Group! How could he possibly let a little kid be a producer? And fully invest in him? If Zhao Huaiyuan doesn't have some kind of powerful background, I'll eat my keyboard! And those casting conditions for the female lead, haha, dare you say it's not a trap?"

23rd Floor (Beijing Film Academy Gatekeeper): "Stop bragging, upstairs. The corpse of that guy who said he wanted to eat shit is still warm. If you don't know, go check ISFVF. Zhao Huaiyuan shut down foreign judges at an international film festival. He's a ruthless guy who won the Grand Slam. He got noticed by President Han based on his talent!"

36th floor (Mars is no place to play): "21st floor is right! You guys should take a closer look at the requirements for this female lead: around 18 years old, background in ancient dance, charm in ancient costumes, ethereal beauty... You might as well just read it from Liu Yifei's ID card."

Floor 39, (I am Chen Haonan): "Damn, now that you mention it, it's true. Isn't Liu Yifei the female lead in 'The Tuner'? I heard her godfather, Mr. Chen, is a big shot who's been featured on Forbes. Sigh, this isn't an audition. I even had some ideas. This is like a personal photo shoot movie tailor-made for this young lady. Let's all just fill in the numbers."

Floor 41 (Hu Bayi, the Tomb Raider): "Your analysis is spot on, but I just want to ask one question: where did that dead eunuch named Da Lantian go? 'Ghost Blows Out the Light' has been on hiatus for three days! Three days! Was he recruited? More than caring about what kind of lousy movie Zhao Huaiyuan is making, I want to know if Hu Bayi and Fatty will survive the next chapter!"

Floor 43 (Smoke from Fingertips): "Upstairs +1, I also recommend 'Ghost Blows Out the Light'! I wait for updates every day, the flowers have all withered from waiting. Directors these days are too impetuous. If Zhao Huaiyuan were really smart, he should have gone to great lengths to persuade Da Lantian to write a script for him. That would be ten times better than this museum! It's a pity that Zhao Huaiyuan is too arrogant like an academic, he definitely wouldn't look down on online novels."

Floor 46 (Diving Fish): "Stop talking about web novels, let's get back to the movie. Do you guys think it's possible that this is a period martial arts drama? Otherwise, why would the female lead have classical dance skills? But the scene is set overseas, which doesn't make sense. Plus, the male and female leads' requirements... It's really strange. What kind of movie is this? Beauty and the Beast? A match made in heaven?"

Floor 51 (Unappreciated Talent): "What's the point of all that analysis? Whatever it is, I'm going. I'm 33 this year, just laid off, and my wife ran off with the neighbor's son. I have life experience! What if they select me?"

Floor 56 [Like a Lotus Emerging from Clear Water]:

"Hmph, what are you mortals arguing about? The female lead has already been chosen. Who is this Liu Yifei? How can he have such a voluptuous figure as Liu Yifei?"

I was born to be a focal point girl; I have a stunning figure and outstanding charisma.

If the director is looking for a period drama feel, then nothing beats lotus root. Every time I go on stage, the audience is so overwhelmed by my radiance that they can't breathe. Like a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful without any artifice, my beauty is absolutely gorgeous.